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Academic Policies

Degrees at a Distance Program for Fire Fighters

Western Illinois University is one of seven institutions participating in the Degrees at a Distance Program (DDP), a higher education project of the National Fire Academy (NFA). The program provides access to higher education for all fire administration personnel and allows them to earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university without losing time on the job.

Western Illinois University offers DDP courses to firefighters within our designated region of: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. This program provides opportunities to complete a degree or to pursue personal and professional growth.

Degrees at a Distance Courses

Macomb Police Chief Andy Taylor.Degrees at a Distance (DDP) courses are upper-division online courses designed for in-service fire personnel. Selected DDP courses are offered each semester. A WIU faculty member is responsible for consulting with the student, reviewing written assignments, evaluating examinations, and assigning grades.To register for DDP courses, students must contact their advisor.

Students are responsible for meeting appropriate course prerequisites. Students registering for courses without the necessary prerequisites may be dropped from the class.

Course Listings

To register for DDP courses, students must contact their advisor. All course offerings will be available online only through Course Search on STARS. You may access Course Search from the Registrar’s website.

Additional Information

Students will be assessed an instructional enhancement charge for all courses designated Internet (I and IC), Correspondence (C), and Extension site (E). This distance learning instructional enhancement charge is applicable only to new students, students who re-enroll at the University under new Cost Guarantee programs (i.e. future new student cohorts and students who do not maintain continuous enrollment), and non-degree graduate students.

To request additional information about the Degrees at a Distance Program please contact Non-Traditional Programs.